Venetian blind installation bracket



April 6, 1954 H- K. LORENTZEN VENETIAN BLIND vINSTALLATION BRACKET HISATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIANBLIND INSTALLATION BRACKET Hans K. Lorentzen, Montclair, N. J., assignorto Lorentzen Hardware Mf Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application Dctober 29, 1949, Serial No. 124,330

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to Venetian blinds, and more particularly to aso-called installation bracket for removably supporting a blind inposition adjacent a window or door opening.

A Venetian blind is essentially an assembly of superimposed articulatedslats which are suspended from a headbar extending across the top of theblind and on which is mounted mechanism for raising and tilting theslats of the blind. This arrangement facilitates installation of theblind as a unit. In the usual construction, installation brackets, whichare secured to the window frame, are used to removably support the endsof the headbar.

The installation bracket of the present invention is particularlyadapted for supporting a socalled enclosed head in which the headbar ishollow, often being formed of a light gauge sheet metal channel more orless enclosing the lifting and tilting mechanism of the blind. Suchheadbars are usually much larger in cross section than wooden headbars,in which the slats of the blind are suspended from a tilt bar rotatablymounted on the underside of the headbar.

This bracket or hanger is particularly advantageous for supporting theenclosed head type of blind in so-called concealed installations, inwhich the headbar is received within a recess or pocket at the top ofthe window which may be formed by a cornice or valance board extendingacross the top of the window below the lintel or may be formed as arecess in the wall itself. In many such installations, headbarsupporting brackets of the type in which a front retainer iiange ispivoted to swing forwardly for installation or removal of the headbar,as disclosed in the Mintz Patent No. 2,244,326 of September 9, 1941,cannot be used due to insufficient clearance between the brackets andthe forward wall oi the pocket to permit opening of the retainer ange.

In the form shown of the present invention, the bracket comprises aplate member adapted to span across the channel of the headbar andhaving a flange on each side of the headb-ar receiving and supportingtwo ends of a generally U-shaped member extending about the sides andbottom of the headbar. The plate member is provided with holes receivingmounting screws for securing it to the lintel in the so-called ceilingor overhead mounting and may also be provided with a side iiangeprovided with mounting screw holes for a so-called inside mounting inwhich the mounting brackets are secured to the jamb or side surfaces ofthe Window opening. The supporting anges of the plate member may beformed by folding the ends of the plate downward and back uponthemselves in spaced parallel relation.

The co-operating U-shaped member is so proportioned as to fit closelyover the sides and bottom of the headbar and the free ends of the legsare turned outwardly to :form anges adapted to overlie and be supportedby the iianges or the plate member. A portion of the bottom of theU-shaped member is at a lower level than the remainder of this part toIpermit passage of the lift cords or tilt cords between the headbar andthe member during installation of the headbar, as will be explained.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improvedinstallation bracket for Venetian blind headbars which is adapted foreconomical quantity production from sheet metal stampings and which canbe used advantageously in concealed installations.

Among the other objects of the invention are: to provide an improvedinstallation bracket which lalso may be used as a center or intermediatesupport for a headbar; to provide a bracket which may be used forsupporting either end of a headbar, no lefts and rights being required;to provide a bracket that is durable and dependable in service; and togenerally improve installation brackets of the type described.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies ofconstruction, manufacture and use will more definitely appear from thedetailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly deiined in the appended claims. Where parts are,for clarity and convenience, referred to on the basis of their orientedposition shown in the accompanying drawing, no limitation as to theposition lof the entire structure is to be implied. Also in both thedescription and the claims, parts at times may be identied by specificnames for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is tov beunderstood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the contextand with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinentprior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying myinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part ofthis specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Venetian blind provided withinstallation brackets according to the present invention, the lowerportion of the blind having been omitted for convenience o fillustration.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the installationv bracket, the two partsof the bracket being shown in exploded relation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the headbar, showing the twoparts of the installation bracket in position for engagement.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the installation bracket and headbar,taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, a portionof the headbar being broken away to show details of the installationbracket. One part of the bracket is shown additionally in broken linesto show the method of assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a Venetian blind of theenclosed head type in which a channel-shaped sheet metal headbar Ireceives the operating mechanism. The headbar I0 is supported at eachend by installation brackets II and a third installation bracket II isshown about midway of the length of the headbar, this last bracket beingknown in the trade as an intermediate supporting bracket. 'One or moreintermediate brackets are used to prevent sagging of long headbars orheadbars supporting long heavy blinds. The bracket I I of the presentinvention is suitable for mounting at either end of the headbar, norights or lefts being required, and is also suitable for use as anintermediate bracket.

The bracket II is comprised of two parts, a plate member I2 and aU-shaped member I4. The plate member I2 comprises a flat generallyrectangular sheet metal stamping proportioned to span across the top ofthe headbar lil. The two opposite end sides of the plate member i2 areturned downwardly and back upon themselves to form generally horizontalsupporting flanges I5, I at the top outside edges of the headbar I0. The-plate member I2 may be provided with several holes I6 for receivingmounting screws when the bracket is to be used in a ceiling mounting, inwhich the plate and blind are fixed to the underside of a horizontallintel surface.

A downwardly directed flange Il may be provided at one end of the platemember I2, this flange being provided with holes I9, I9 for receivingmounting screws when the bracket II is to be mounted on the jambsurfaces of an opening as in an inside mounting of a blind. The platemember I2 is symmetrical about a line coinciding with the longitudinalcenter line of the headbar I0, thus adapting the plate I2 for mountingat either end of the headbar by turning it end for end. The lowercentral portion of the ange I'I may be cut away to form a rounded notch20 in order to provide clearance for operating parts within the headbarIE) when the bracket is used as an intermediate support.

The end 2I of each supporting flange I5 adjacent the flange Il is turnedupwardly to close the ends of the channels formed between the flangesI5, I5 and the balance of the plate I2. The opposite ends 22, 22 ofthese flanges are similarly turned up but are somewhat shorter so as toleave an end opening into the channels formed between the supportingilanges and the plate for entrance of portions of the U--shaped memberI4, as will be described.

The U-shaped member I4 is formed of a straplike sheet metalV stampingproportioned to t closely along the bottom and sides of the channel I0,the free ends of -the member I4 terminating in an outwardly-projectinggenerally horizontal flange 24 at the outside of the upper edges of thechannel. The width of the member I4 may be slightly less than the widthof the plate I2 to permit the flanges 24, 24 to be supported on the topsurface of the supporting flanges I5, I5 and between the ends 2| and 22thereof.

The relationship of the plate member I2 and U-shaped member I4 is suchthat the member I4 and headbar lo may be raised slightly relative to theplate member I2 to permit the flanges 24, 24 of the member I4 to bepassed over the ends 22, 22 of the supporting iianges I5, the headbarand member I4 then being permitted to drop to support the member I4 fromthe flanges I5, I5 of the plate member I2. In the preferred embodimentof the bracket shown, the upper, inner surfaces of supporting flangesI5, I5 are spaced vertically from the bottom surface of the plate memberI2 a distance which is a small number of times greater than thethickness of the anges 24, 24 of the member I4 to reduce over-all heightof the bracket. In such illustrated embodiment, the upper edges of theend portions 22 of the supporting iianges I5 are spaced from the lowersurface of plate member I2 a distance somewhat exceeding the thicknessof the flanges 24, 24.

The transverse portion 25 of the bottom or base section of the U-shapedmember I4 is formed at a somewhat lower level than the remainder of thissection to provide a slight clearance between the member and the bottomwall of the headbar IQ, this clearance extending longitudinally of theheadbar for the Width of the member and preferably being located at oradjacent one of the legs of the U-shaped member. The portion 25 providesclearance for passage of the lift or tilt cords of the blind between theU-shaped member and bottom of the headbar during assembly, as indicatedin Fig. 3.

The U-shaped member I4 may be applied to either end portion of theheadbar as indicated in Fig. 3 and slid sidewise into engagement withthe supporting anges I5, I5 of the plate I2, at which time the liftcords or tilt cords, as the case may be, will hang vertically from thehead bar without interference from the brackets. During sliding movementof the member Irl, the depressed portion 25 thereof passes directlybelow the hole in the bottom wall of the headbar provided for the liftcords or the tilt cords, as the case may be.

Since the member I 4 is symmetrical to a center plane perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the headbar, no rights or lefts of this partare required.

I claim:

l. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, said bracketcomprising: a generally rectangular sheet metal plate having a dependingflange on one side thereof, the end portions of the plate being turneddown and back upon themselves in generally parallel spaced relation toform a pair of supporting ilanges, and a generally U-shaped memberadapted to extend across the bottom and sides of the headbar and havingoutwardly-directed end anges adapted to overlie and engage thesupporting anges of the plate, the supporting flanges being providedwith upwardly-projecting end portions to retain the member thereon.

2.-A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, saidbrakecomprising: agenerally rectangular plate, the end Vportions thereofbeing turned down and back upon themselves in spaced relation to form apair of horizontal supporting flanges, and a generally U-shaped memberadapted to extend across the bottom and sides of the headbar, the topportions of the legs thereof being turned outwardly to form a pair offlanges adapted to overlie and be carried by the supporting flanges ofthe plate, the ends of said supporting flanges being upturned to aid inretaining the flanges of the U-shaped member thereon.

3. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, said bracketcomprising: a generally rectangular sheet metal plate having a dependingilange on one side thereof, the end portions of the plate being turneddown and back upon themselves in generally parallel spaced relation toform a pair of supporting ilanges, and a generally U-shaped memberformed to extend across the bottom and sides of the headbar, the topportions of the legs being formed to overlie and engage the supportingflanges of the plate, a transverse portion of the bottom section of themember being at a lower level than the remainder thereof to provideclearance below the bottom wall of the headbar for the passage ofblindoperating cords.

4. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, as claimed inclaim 4, in which the supporting flanges of the plate are provided withupwardly-projecting end portions to aid in retaining the member thereon.

5. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, said bracketcomprising: a generally rectangular sheet metal plate, the end portionsbeing folded down and back upon themselves in parallel spaced relationto form a pair of supporting flanges, and a generally U-shaped memberformed to extend across the bottom and sides of a headbar, the topportions of the legs being formed to overlie and engage the supportingilanges of the plate, a transverse portion of the bottom section of theU-shaped member being at a lower level than the remainder thereof toprovide clearance below the bottom Wall of the headbar for the passageof blind operating cords, and the supporting flanges being provided withupwardly-projecting end portions to aid in retaining the member engagedwith the plate.

6. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, said bracketcomprising: a generally rectangular sheet metal plate having a dependingflange along one side, and having its end portions turned downward andback upon themselves in spaced relation to form a pair of supportingilanges, the end portions of the flanges being turned upward towards theplate, and a generally U-shaped metal member adapted to overlie thesides and bottom of an enclosed headbar, the free ends of the legs ofthe member being turned outwardly and adapted to be supported by theflanges of the plate, the bottom section of the member having atransverse portion located at a lower level than the remainder thereofto provide clearance below the bottom Wall of the headbar for passage ofblind-operating cords.

7. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, said bracketcomprising: a generally rectangular sheet metal plate, the end portionsof said plate being folded down and back upon themselves in parallelspaced relation to form a pair of supporting flanges, and a generallyU-shaped member adapted to extend across the bottom and sides of theheadbar and having outwardly-directed end flanges adapted to overlie andengage the supporting flanges of the plate, the supporting flanges beingprovided with upwardly-projecting end portions to retain the memberthereon, the upper, inner surfaces of the supporting end flanges of theplate being spaced vertically from the bottom surface of the plate adistance which is a small number of times greater than the thickness ofthe outwardly-directed end flanges on the U-shaped member, and the upperedges of the upwardly-projecting end portions on at least one end of thesupporting flanges being spaced from the bottom surface of the plate adistance somewhat exceeding the thickness of said outwardly-directed endflanges.

8. A bracket for supporting a Venetian blind headbar, said bracketcomprising: a generally rectangular sheet metal plate having a dependingflange along one side and having its end portions turned downward andback upon themselves in spaced relation to form a pair of supportingflanges, the end portions of the ilanges being turned upwardly towardsthe plate; and a generally U-shaped member adapted to overlie the sidesand bottom of an enclosed headbar, the free ends of the legs of themember being turned outwardly and adapted to be supported by the flangesof the plate, the bottom section of the member having a transverseportion located at a lower level than the remainder thereof to provideclearance below the bottom wall of the headbar for passage ofblind-operating cords, the upper, inner surfaces of the supporting endflanges of the plate being spaced vertically from the bottom surface ofthe plate a distance which is a small number of times greater than thethickness of the outwardly-directed end flanges on the U-shaped member,and the upper edges of the upwardly-projecting end portions on at leastone end of the supporting ilanges being spaced from the bottom surfaceof the plate a distance somewhat exceeding the thickness of saidoutwardly-directed end flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,845,870 Fowler et al. Feb. 16, 1932 2,259,151 Claspy Oct.14, 1941 2,358,946 Tornblom Sept. 26, 1944 2,423,978 Hunter July 15,1947 2,454,550 Burns Nov. 23, 1948 2,469,949 Cantrell May 10, 19492,541,908 Attwood Feb. 13, 1951 2,595,752 Botts May 6, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 635,321 Germany Sept. 15, 1936

